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On the surface, a managerless club who are edging nearer to a relegation battle will cast their gaze to those leading the way in the division below.

Nuno – as he is known – sits at the summit of the Championship with Wolves, his side widely considered the best in the league and favourites to go up.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' head coach Nuno Espirito Santo celebrates a win for his side in the Championship

But that would not be the reason for Everton to eye up Nuno. Suffice to say, if it were Neil Warnock or Chris Wilder – in charge of second and third placed Cardiff and Sheffield United respectively – there would be little clamour to see them on Merseyside.

Nuno, however, is a name that a few fans already wanted – and now, reports in Spain have placed him in the frame.

In reality, Everton continue to conduct their search and there are a number of names under consideration.

But the Portuguese manager (born in São Tomé and Príncipe) would be one worth considering.

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Before his shock summer appointment at Molineux, he had successful spells at Rio Ave and Valencia.

He led Valencia to the Champions League in his one and only full season at the club; he had been appointed after leading Portuguese minnows Rio Ave to two cup finals in 2013/14.

His subsequent year at Porto – a club he represented as a player – ended without a trophy, allowing Wolves to pull off a real coup, with his stock slightly damaged after his time at Estadio do Dragao.

Ronald Koeman looks on prior to the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park on October 22, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Image: Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

But rewind a few years and the former goalkeeper was considered one of Europe’s most promising young coaches; a real upstart who threatened to break the status quo of Spanish football.

His reputation is starting to grow once more at Wolves.

Although he has the best squad in the division by far – a result of investment from Chinese conglomerate Fosun International coupled with strong ties to super agent Jorge Mendes – his side have played attractive, winning football.

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To collate such a smorgasbord of talent – Ruben Neves joined from Porto, Diogo Jota is on loan from Atletico, Leo Bonatini a former Brazilian wonderkid – and have them playing well in the Championship, alongside more established second-tier players, is an achievement in itself.

He is not your typical Championship-leading manager, for sure.

Dyche and Allardyce were both raised in the Midlands, but if the Blues were to consider a shock appointment, it would be the region’s leading manager they turn to.

That would really flip the script - much like Nuno has since his arrival in the summer.